Moving

Wow, I have not posted for a very, very long time. Time for an update then!

Because most of my viewers are friends and family, I am sure that all of you know that I will be moving very shortly to an apartment in Blacksburg, Virginia while I persue a degree in Fisheries Conservation. Just as I haven't done any commissioned or gallery artwork since Duke died this past Christmas, I probably will not be doing any in the immediate future either. I've turned a lot of commissions down in the past few months, but at this point in my life I am just not in the right place to be doing art as a business.

Having said that... I have a few art-fun-projects coming up. :)

December of last year I made a scrapbook of Duke's life, so I'd like to post a few pictures of that. It turned out beautifully, and I am now feeling like a borderline scrapbooking addict. So fun, but so expensive! Also, after staring at his crappy stark white urn on the mantle for a while I decided to paint it, so I will post pictures of that when I am finished as well.

I did do a simple collaberation with another artist recently. The subject was a peacock, and it was a favor for my friend Melissa. I love little things like that because they can be completed in one short sitting, and are both relaxing and fun. I actually have no seen the finished product yet after the other artist has made his finishing touches, so once I get a hold of those photos I'll post them as well.

Apart from that I plan on doing a few PrismaColor drawings soon, since I have two free weeks before school starts. I have a few things in mind, but I am going to keep it a secret for now!

One last thing:
Because I will not have room for all of my art supplies and paintings at my new place, everything is going into storage. I hate to see all of that artwork just get put into the dark, damp basement. So please, if there is anything for sale in my gallery that you like PLEASE let me know and we can definitely work something out so that at least someone gets to appreciate it.

Promise I'll be back soon -- xoxox
Britney

Pumpkins

This Halloween was definitely one to remember. Mostly due to pumpkin carving contests. My team even won $50 worth of pizza from the college! Here are a few photo recaps from this most recent holiday.




Winning werewolf pumpkin for the Germanna competition.

 

3-D Owl Pumpkin Carving

Halloween 2011
I was a raccoon this year. :)

2011 6x6 Show--My First Placing

As usual I had about twenty pieces planned for this show--about 5 got started and only 1 got completely finished, a watercolor of a bird that I had painted during the summer.

Black-Capped Chickadee

 And, what do you know, I actually won my very first placing! Second out of over 150 paintings!

Second Place

At the time my painting hadn't sold yet, but I haven't had an opportunity to check since then. Honestly, the generous prize money was more than I could have asked for.

Now that I've won second in a show, I suppose my next goal should be first place. Better watch out for me next year!

Oh, the Irony

http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2011/092011/09262011/654290?______array

 

Here is an article published in today's Free Lance Star about the festival. They chose a photo of my unfinished piece to represent all of the artists...

The Festival

This weekend is Via Colori 2011. Let me give a quick recap on last year's festival:

It was nearly 100 degrees, I was in the relentless sun, I was sick as a dog, I didn't really get to even draw anything, and then it rained. It was horrible because of these things.

This year, all of the conditions were perfect. It was beautiful weather, cloudy, I felt good, I was well-prepared. Everything was in my favor. It was just me, the chalk, and the pavement yesterday.

And I didn't enjoy it at all... That's all there was to it! I have used pastels well in past, but they really aren't my favorite medium. The asphalt was so bumpy and porous and cracked that it was hard to draw on. My back was killing me from kneeling over on the hard surface for hours straight. I just couldn't get anything right with the pastels, so I hated what I had produced. Not to mention that it was live with crowds of people watching me as I struggled. All of these things just added up to an unpleasant experience, and around 2pm I stood up and just decided that I was done and that street art just wasn't for me. I guess it's one of those things that if  you never try, you never know. Can't love everything, I suppose!

Citta Colori Show

Tonight was the Citta Colori show at the Ponshop. My mom and I dropped in quickly for the gallery talk. There weren't a ton of pieces, but the ones that were there were amazing. Instead of a juried show, this one is people's choice with voting throughout the month of September. I decided that I would vote only for one of my own pieces if mine were actually my favorites, and they definitely weren't!

Me at the Ponshop reception.

My submissions to the City Colors show.

Come and vote for your favorites!

City Colors

I just dropped off my two pieces for the City Colors exhibit at the Ponshop, for which there will be an opening reception on Friday. Having finished my second painting, a self portrait (the practice Birth of Venus didn't work out), just before leaving, I had to stop at Michaels and buy a frame (and borrow their screwdriver) on the way to the gallery. After the stressful delivery, I was finally calming down on my drive home when a thought suddenly struck me and I bolted upright in my seat and screamed "THE TOES!!!"

I forgot to put feet on the crow.

Will anyone else notice? Probably not. Does that make me feel better? Not really.

I just can't believe that I framed a painting and delivered it to a gallery without realizing that I didn't put any legs on the bird. That ever happen to anyone else?

It's really not that noticeable...